Preview: Gills v Dons

Neal Ardley’s men will tonight be aiming to reignite their season at a venue that has proven to be a happy hunting ground in the past.

In January 2012, the Dons triumphed 4-3 at Priestfield Stadium after trailing 3-1 and 15 months later fought back to earn a 2-2 draw.

That four-goal thriller confirmed Gillingham as League 2 Champions, but it also secured a vital point that helped the Dons to avoid relegation on the final day.

place respectively ahead of tonight’s game, both sides will once again be determined to earn three points.th place and 18thWith Gillingham and Wimbledon occupying 15

QUOTES

Dean Parrett:

“It has been a bit frustrating and hard to take for me, but I got through training really well yesterday. I got a kick from behind in the Sutton game and I have not really recovered from it (ankle injury). I had come back into training a couple of times, but it had just gone again.

“I heard that we played really well at Shrewsbury and we just need to build on that. I know we did not win, but the performance was slightly better. Both teams are going into tonight needing points so it is about whoever wants it the most. We don’t get too low or too high here. We have to make sure that we move onto the next game and get what we can out of it. We are going there to try and get three points.”

Neal Ardley:

“If we can get the spark and confidence back into our forward players, we will be all right. It is a big game, they are all big now. Looking at our fixture schedule, we have Gills and Walsall, before two really tough ones at Scunthorpe and Bolton. We had the better chances (on Saturday) and if we can carry that forward and add to it, hopefully we can give a good account of ourselves in the next two games.

“We need to hit the ground running. It is difficult as a manager because you cannot totally control the result. You can try and control the performance and the mindset of the lads. We worked hard on Saturday and did not get the result. Hopefully, we will perform as well and we will get something, certainly in the next two games, to give us a bit of confidence going into those two big away ones.”

Ady Pennock:

“We have to take the positives from the second half (against Coventry on Saturday). It will be a tough game against Wimbledon, it always is, but we have to move on and hope we get those three points sooner rather than later.”

“They [the fans] will always back us to the very end, but they have got to have something to shout about. You can’t go 2-0 down at half-time and expect a round of applause. The players have to do it on the pitch.”

TEAM NEWS

Dean Parrett (interview on Dons Player via link above) is set for a return to the squad after shaking off an ankle injury. However, captain Barry Fuller (pectoral muscle) misses out against his former club and it’s too soon for Jon Meades, though he has returned to full training after an ankle injury. Chris Robertson is doubtful with a shoulder injury.

For Gillingham, Scott Wagstaff was due to have a late fitness test after missing the defeat at Coventry City on Saturday.